Lab D103

Lab D104

Course Description

Introduces theory and practice of designing visual representations of information. Students will learn to visually translate textual, numerical and evidentiary information so that it can be communicated to diverse user communities and contexts. An emphasis will be on understanding how the meaning of images can change over time and across contexts and cultures. Beginning with photographic images, interactive charts, graphs, and maps, projects progress to more complex information in media forms ranging from advanced aspects of the web to interactive 3D visualizations. The relationship between visual display is explored in relation to its technology of creation, including code and information architecture.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes expected for students include:

Explore the role and influence that graphic design, information architecture and user experience play on our perception and interpretation of information.

Explain key methods used in the context of information design to visually represent different forms of information.

Generate design criteria from specific scenarios and assess the utility of the criteria in the development of a user-centred design.

Use methods - e.g. sketching, wireframing, sitemaps and flowcharts - to design applications that will translate basic qualitative and quantitative information into more human-readable representations.

Grading

Graded items in this course will typically make use of a rubric to define grading criteria. While every effort will be made to clarify the rubric and criteria, please make sure to bring up any questions you may have about the rubric before a project comes due. Also pay attention to the late/problematic submission and plagiarism policy, as they can come up in grading as well.

The graded items in this course include:

Participation

Participation will be checked at random points through the term. Each participation check will be an equally weighed portion in 5% of your final grade, and participation can only be excused for legitimate reasons (i.e. doctor's notes, large calamities, emergencies). When in doubt, email Andrew.

Lab-work

As part of the course there are a variety of lab-work assignments that require attendance and participation in the lab. These assignments help to improve project work by offering further opportunities for feedback on code, your projects, or a different approach to improving your projects.

Quizzes

There are three in lecture quizzes — two on readings, one on coding — that assess understanding of the theoretical and technical content of the course. All materials covered in the lecture or readings can be tested and hints are provided randomly in-lecture as to quiz questions.

Projects

Projects use knowledge learnt from all components of the course, so active attendance and participation in the course is important as a result.

Late or Incorrectly Submitted Deliverables

Late deliverables receive 10% per day late starting immediately after the deliverable is due. Allow yourself sufficient time to submit deliverables without incurring late penalties.

Files incorrectly submitted to Canvas — for example, submitting a PDF that cannot be opened — will receive a penalty on the resubmitted file of 30% plus 10% per day not resubmitted after you were contacted about the problematic submission. For example, if you do not resubmit the file until two days after you were notified the penalty will be 50%. It is your responsibility to ensure that your deliverables make it in on-time and can be accessed.

Grading Scale

All the grades in this course tally to 100% to make it easier to track progress through the term. To translate the percentage to a letter grade, this course uses the SIAT standard grading scale for final letter grades:

95% > A+ < 100%

90% > A < 94.9%

85% > A- < 89.9%

80% > B+ < 84.9%

76% > B < 79.9%

72% > B- < 75.9%

68% > C+ < 71.9%

64% > C < 67.9%

60% > C- < 63.9%

50% > D < 59.9%

0% > F < 50%

Plagiarism

Please note that the following — according to SFU policy 4.1.2 — constitutes plagiarism:

Submitting or presenting the work of another person, including artistic imagery, as that of the student without full and appropriate accreditation;

Copying all or part of an essay or other assignment from an author or other person, including a tutor or student mentor, and presenting the material as the student's original work;

Failing to acknowledge the phrases, sentences or ideas of the author of published and unpublished material that is incorporated into an essay or other assignment.

Plagiarism will result in a grade reduction or school disciplinary action at the instructor's discretion. For further reference and clarification, please see SFU's academic honesty policy or ask Andrew for clarification.

Other Items

Other course-related items that are important to include as part of this syllabus.

Readings

Teamwork

You will be allowed to select your groups for any teamwork in this course. In lieu of group evaluations, process deliverables for each project are graded individually, so each team member is responsible for completing their own work. Team contracts are used to clarify team member expectations and obligations. Consider your group member options carefully.

Lab Switching

It is not permitted to change labs unless under special circumstances. You must first speak with Andrew for permissionbefore attending another lab. Please keep in mind that there must be a lab opening with nobody on the waitlist to be able to switch labs (often unlikely).

All Courses Are Equal

Please remember that all courses are created equal, no one course should monopolize all your time at the detriment of your other courses. If you should find yourself in such a situation, please let your instructor know sooner rather than later.

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